October 11, 2012

Floods described as the the worst in several decades have caused devastation in large parts of Nigeria, including the submerging of crops across wide areas, causing fears of a food crisis. Up to 24 of the country's 36 states are reported to have experienced severe flooding.

Chairman of Bayelsa State Cassava Growers Association, Mr. Ekiye Akainza described this as a disaster year. Many settlements, thousands of hectares of farmlands were submerged, with scores of deaths reported.

Tunde Arosanyin, an official of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) said it was no longer possible to plant crops this year as farmers had already "lost the active season without hope of recovery."
He also said there would be low crop and livestock supply in the market
from December as demand would outstrip supply while prices would
skyrocket.

David Ogwu, the Laison Officer 1 for Ibaji Local Government,
expressed optimism that the rains would cease in the next four to five
weeks but wondered where the people would start from.
"Where will the people find seedlings to plant? Where will the maize
seeds, cassava stems, yam seedlings, sorghum and the rest crops come
from?"